Tropes:
Grumpy/sunshine
Found family
Magic lessons✨
Mysterious house

This was just a joy to read. It was really cozy, cute and magical. Mika was a lovely main character who never really felt like she fit in, and finally got the chance to belong somewhere. With three rambunctious children in the story there was plenty of hijinks, and I loved how the magic manifested for them! The magic system itself was well explained, but still left some mystery to not take away from the magical feel of it.
The romantic plot was cute, but It’s more of a subplot so don’t expect it to be the focus of the story.

If you’re looking for a more feelgood witchy read, this is highly recommended!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is beautifully written and reading it gives you a warm cosy feeling that wraps you up in the softest hug!

31 year old Mika Moon has spent most of her life without family or friends and her being a witch sets her apart from humans. Raised mostly by nannies and under the guidance of head witch Primrose she's forced to live within the rules of the witchdom, one of which states no contact with other witches except from a scheduled annually meeting. Never staying in one place for very long and not getting too attached to anyone or anywhere (apart from her dog Circe) is how she keeps her heart safely tucked away. After she receives a curious invitation to school 3 young children in magic, she sets off to a mysterious place called Nowhere House. This is the start of Mika's journey of self-discovery about herself, her magic and where she finds out that within this eccentric family there just might be a place for her. There's smiles and laughter, there's heartbreak and tears, there's soft and sweet magical moments set against the navigation of being considered different by others and most of the characters share this common thread for a variety reasons.

While Mika is untrusting at first, she still has a heart of gold and will fiercely defend those she cares about. I loved how her magic is linked to the earth and nature, and that she brews magical teas and potions infused with a little stardust and the like. I loved her and grumpy Jamie's slow burn romance and oh did I mention that there's some spicy moments in this book too :)

It's beautifully written and reading it gives you a warm cosy feeling that wraps you up in the softest hug! It's brimming with earthy magic, diverse and inclusive characters who each have something special about them that feel like home;- from main witch Mika Moon, to mr grumpy sunshine Librarian Jamie, to the adorable 3 young witches Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira who charmed their way into my heart and made me laugh at times, Ken and his husband Ian, house-keeper Lucy and the whole household at Nowhere House 💕

Loved it!

I was given an arc by Hodder & Stoughton to review but also pre-ordered after reading it.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a magical feel-good story about finding your place in the world and the people with whom you want to share it. It's cute, funny and overall a really good story that deserves to be read!

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a copy!

This was such a delight. I was charmed all the way down to the stone-cold cockles of my heart.

If you enjoyed The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels or The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton for its humor and soft magic, you should give this book a try. I genuinely loved all the characters and the found family aspect, which is rare, even though I do think some of them could have been fleshed out a bit more.

A lot of the plot revolves around people being protective of each other, and doing anything within their power to make sure the ones they love are safe. When Mika first arrives at Nowhere House, Jamie views her with suspicion and acts pretty grumpy in general. Grump/sunshine is a very popular trope, but it doesn't work for me if characters are grumpy just for the sake of it. In this case, I understood why Jamie was acting the way he did, which made it so much more enjoyable.

The highlight of the book are definitely the three girls, who constantly had me grinning. Terracotta especially, with her possibly murderous inclinations, was so much fun to read about. The girls are all from different backgrounds, and it was a pleasant surprise to find out that the youngest was Palestinian. It was an off-hand mention and doesn't impact the story in any way, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it. I mean who can resist a cosy read with witches, tea and a delightful dog named Circe!

We get to follow Mika Moon, a wonderful witch lurking on instagram, as she takes on the task of teaching and guiding three little witches .. Three little witches who are hidden away in Nowhere House with the most amazing collection of people who adore them and want to protect them at all costs.

The characters in this book are remarkable and you instantly fall in love with all of them. I was especially fond of Ian and Ken who are just so brilliant and bring so much love and humour to the story but every single character is evolved and vibrant. The story moves at a comfortable pace where you don’t feel rushed and really build up an image of the house, characters and things that go on. There is so much love and laughter throughout the story that you can’t help but smile and laugh as you read it. I didn’t want it to end.

Perfect for fans of TJ Klune, it really is the type of book that you’ll want to hide from the real world with!

I've been looking forward to reading The Very Secret Society of Witches ever since I came across the blurb on GoodReads.

If you like the grumpy/sunshine romance trope this is the book for you. Mika is a witch who despite the lot life has thrown at her has a sunny disposition. She enjoys tinkering with potions and creating magical teas. While her love interest, Jamie, the grump in this dynamic, is a librarian who is very protective over the kids of Nowhere House.

Mika is South Asian, seeing myself represented in a book just feels amazing. The rest of the characters were also diverse and colourful. I just loved the found family aspect of this book, it was so heart-warming.

This was such an uplifting book, the reading experience felt like consuming a warm cup of tea on a cold winters day. I think it's great for when you want something cosy that leaves you thoroughly satisfied.

I was very excited to read this book and I enjoyed it, but it didn't blow me away and I don't think I can say that I loved it. It was cute; the writing style was pleasant; I liked the characters. It was also very predictable -I guessed every reveal long before it happened- and I felt it was too short. Everything moved really fast and I just wish there had been more time to focus on the relationships (romantic and platonic) and to focus on the magic a bit more. It's great if you want a quick, light comfort read though.

“The House in the Cerulean Sea meets Practical Magic” – well that’s some claim right there, and since the former is currently my favourite read of the year it meant my expectations were set high for this one. It also meant this was going to go one of two ways – it would either be as good as the blurb claimed or it would be a catastrophic failure and a DNF.

Those claims were fully justified, this is a beautiful tale, filled with laughter, love and family but one also tempered by loneliness, longing and fear. There was just something… magical …about this story, and I’m not referencing the witches and their powers. It quickly drew me in and almost immediately became a book I didn’t want to put down, a book I was thinking about it when I had to do so, and a book I picked straight back up as soon as I could. Mika, the three young girls, Jamie et al soon became people to me. I cared about them, fell in love with them, giggled at their antics, swooned at their passion and, ok I admit it, shed a tear or two at Mika’s forlornness.

On the surface, this is an alternate reality romance, but just like The House in the Cerulean Sea, it had depth and not-so-hidden meaning. There is found family, there is being accepted for who you are, there is being brave enough to take yet another chance, despite the raw hand life has constantly dealt you.

“People are usually like the sea, a constant, unerasable part of something bigger, but I’m more like a single wave that washes over the shore, ebbs away, and doesn’t leave a trace behind.”
He swallowed, his knuckles almost white on the wheel.
Mika looked away. “I’m afraid I’ll never leave a mark on anybody.”


The world-building was good, it wasn’t overly detailed and a lot was left up to the reader’s imagination, which I very much appreciated. If there was one thing I would have wished for in this book, it would have been more scenes of Mika teaching Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira. As someone who was initially attracted by the phrase “Irregular Witches” in the title, I would have loved to see a little more magic in action. However I still very much enjoyed this story and will be open to reading more work by the author in the future. The book did contain profanity and an on-page sex scene, so this would not be suitable for all readers.


“If I loved you less,” he said quietly, the words no less true for the laugh that threaded through his voice, “I might be able to talk about it more.”

Although it was the cover and the title that attracted me to this book, I liked the light tone and the witches on youtube idea. The only thing that didn't help grip my attention enough was that at times the narrative voice read like YA. I love YA, don't get me wrong, but this being adult fantasy, it just kept pushing me out of the story. Nonetheless, this is a refreshing addition to the witchy theme that's been gaining momentum lately. I'm glad to have read it quite early and would recommend it to others.

Thank you to Hodderscape for this eARC!

~ A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life ~

What I Loved:
✨found family & sunshine x grumpy tropes
✨witches & magic
✨very cute love story
✨the twist!!
✨the setting

My heart was so full after reading this, it was beautiful! The writing drew me in and I was eager to know what was going to happen. A spellbinding family drama with the cutest romance intertwined that I found myself rooting for. I loved Mika (MC) she was always trying to what was best and was a bit of a stickler for the rules, to start with. Her character development was amazing!🥹 All the adults and children at Nowhere House were all such loveable characters, even Jamie, who was a little prickly at times. This is a beautiful found family story about embracing who you truly are and fighting for a world you want to live in.

I’d like to start out by thanking Netgalley and the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet, cozy read about witches, found family, love and community. Which is honestly just what I needed. I’ve been reading some books with pretty dark themes, so it was very refreshing to dip into something so wholesome and comforting as this.

I loved each of the little witches Mika came to teach and how unique personalities, as well as names, each of these young girls had. As someone who enjoys archaeology, I certainly enjoyed the reasoning behind each of these names. On top of that, I really loved the rest of the found family of Nowhere House, especially Jamie. The romance between him and Mika was not only super sweet, but I also really enjoyed the balance between the main plot and the romance plot. I think that’s something that’s definitely difficult to master, because you might end up with too much plot, which might make the romance seem rushed, or too much romance, which will make the rest of the plot seem useless in the end. But the author really found the perfect balance between these two.

A few of the plot twists did seem a bit predictable, but that might just be my fault and not the book’s. Overall I really enjoyed this and I definitely recommend it if you want something heartwarming.

(Review will be up on my Instagram (@Kratist0) soon as well)

In a Nutshell: This is the sweetest and the cutest and the loveliest book I’ve read in ages. Imagine sunbeams and moonlight strewn together in a magical combo! Go for it without a doubt.

Story Synopsis:
Thirty-one year old Mika Moon has lived a life of solitude. As a witch, she knows that she cannot let the dangerous world know about her magical abilities. With no family or friends, lonely Mika resorts to posting “fake” witchy videos to an online account, just so that she can talk about her favourite topic – magic. She is sure no one will notice. She is wrong.
When she receives an anonymous message summoning her to a remote place called “Nowhere House” to teach magic to three young witches, she feels uncertain but goes there anyway. What follows is a cute, funny and sometimes dangerous adventure with Mika, her three young wards and their three not-so-young caretakers. Oh, and there’s Jamie too, who hates strangers. How will Mika adjust from being a loner to this sudden flurry of people in her life? Will she finally be able to settle in a place and call it home?

Where the book worked for me:
😍 The characters. Each and every character, including the surly ones. Their detailing is so precise that you can’t help understand their actions. Mika, her three little wards, the three caretakers, Jamie, and Circe the dog – all will cast a spell on you. The best are Mika and Jamie. With each of them using a different modus operandi to deal with the blows life has dealt them, their personalities are a study in contrasts. It’s very easy to love Mika, but try having a grumpy, anti-social hero who loves to spend more time with books and kids than with adults! Team Jamie FTW.
😍 I loved all the “magicky” things in the book. It was a wonderful experience to see an almost personified version of magic throughout the story. It never went over the top. Ditto for the representation of witches.
😍 The characters come from a variety of racial backgrounds – Indian, Irish, British (white and Black), Palestinian, Vietnamese – but none of the ethnicities are thrown at your face. This might have been just to ensure multiracial representation, but the characters are written as regular characters with no needless stress on their diversity. For instance, there’s no shoehorned “chai tea” or yoga making an appearance simply to justify Mika’s Indian roots. I loved seeing this normal portrayal of multicultural characters – it’s exactly how representation should be in this global world. (There’s LGBTQ+ rep also in the form of a gay married couple, and I bet you won’t find a cuter couple in contemporary fiction!)
😍 This novel nails the ‘found family’ trope. With such loveable yet quirky characters, the journey was anyway going to be exciting, but the way the author brought out the feeling of oneness amid these disparate individuals was just beautiful. None of the characters feel unidimensional.
😍 The Mika-Jamie link is quite guessable. (Not complaining – the book is a Fantasy-Romance after all.) But what I loved was how naturally it developed. There’s no insta-lust but a friendship turning into attraction turning into something greater. Romances are always so much better when written in slow-burn style. Also, I hate it when there’s steam for the sake of it. This one has those scenes when they make sense in the narrative flow.
😍 The writing is very quick and easy-going.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😢 Why did the story have to get over so soon? There's no cliffhanger but I demand a sequel ASAP! I want to know what happens about a certain something that has been in existence since hundreds of years. Will Mika be able to modify/overthrow it?

Do you see the skew of my feedback? No surprise then that this book will get the highest rating I ever give to contemporary adult fiction. Recommended to anyone looking for a light and cosy and quick and soul-satisfying read. This was fantastic in every sense of the word. I am going to keep an eye out for all future Sangu Mandanna releases.
(Note: It does have a lot of cuss words. If you don’t like seeing the F word thrown around casually and regularly, this won’t work for you.)

4.75 stars.

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I'm not sure if my words will do justice to just how much I LOVED this book. Sangu Mandanna has brewed together THE most adorable story, by picking the perfect bookish "ingredients."

There's magic and mishaps, the cosiest descriptions and a slow-burn, will-they-won't-they, frenemies to lovers romance. Not to mention, my absolute favourite trope of all... found family! Add in a cast of truly loveable characters, together with a couple of hurdles for them to overcome and you've got a wondrously fun read.

Amongst all the joy and magical mayhem, there is a hint of sadness but ultimately the plot focuses on relationships, acceptance and all things witchy! There's plenty of comedy, a whole lot of love and a warmth that bursts from the pages. It's a gorgeously heartwarming read that left me with the biggest smile on my face, desperate to join The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches!

I love, love, loved it! 💜✨

Magic, found family, humour, a bit of romance, some young children with magic they aren't quite in control of, a mystery ... this book has all of these and mixes them together in a lovely way. I had both the audiobook (great narrator!) and the eBook version of this, and I enjoyed swapping between them.

Its a story about finding your place in the world and your family and where you belong and it's a heart warming read, despite the occasional glimpses of Mika's lonely childhood. Mika doesn't just have magic setting her apart, there's also her race, just as Ian and Ken with their relationship and Primrose with her childhood trauma. These issues are touched on gently and not at all in a preachy way. But it's unfortunately true, it can be very hard to be different, in whatever way that is. And this book acknowledges that, while showing that despite that Mika can find a happy home for herself and be herself and be loved.

Overall I found this an uplifting read and will definitely look for more by this author.

I have heard so much about this book that I could not wait to devour it, and I really was not disappointed. If you enjoyed Nanny McPhee's levels of Shenanigans and Miss Peregrine's house for peculiar children and even T.J Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea then this is the perfect book for you.

Seeing witches as 'normal' people and not violent killers was really refreshing. I got Hocus Pocus-type magic with the cauldrons and potions. This was really fun to read as some witch-based novels follow the same outline for witches and this was entirely different. Witnessing the dynamic between the Secret Society was fascinating as well as in other books, witches are very close and rely on one another. Here, it is the complete opposite.

It was lovely seeing a woman who did not have innate maternal abilities. Mika had to learn how to teach the children. It's a pet peeve in novels when it is assumed every woman has a connection with children. Mika had to work on this. Growing up, she was surrounded by nannies and lacked affection and a 'normal' family structure. This is similar for the three girls, but they have a group of adults that genuinely love them. Mika fit into this dynamic eventually and it was perfect.

Throughout, Lillian, the adoptive guardian of the children was absent for the majority of their lives. The plot twist at the end was definitely unexpected and the conflict solution was written brilliantly. The other caretakers - Ken, Ian and Lucie - were fantastic as well. The small hints at homophobia the two husbands faced were discussed brilliantly.

The grumpy/sunshine romance was an added treat as well. Jamie's closed-off, protective persona was lovely to read. The little snippets of cracks in his grumpiness when it came to the girls or even the dog Circe was funny to read. He was misunderstood initially I think. He grew up in Nowhere House, was there when each of the three girls was brought home and has protected them ever since.

One thing I wish was explained further was if there was a way to break the curse that left so many witches orphaned at a young age. Obviously, it was a happy ending, but that plot point was left wide open by the end.

Overall, I loved this book. I think if every plot point was resolved then it would definitely be a five-star read. Regardless of that, it was a fantastic read and the perfect book to read as we approach autumn.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC. I am really grateful for the opportunity.

“Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking”

Overview

“Don’t get soppy yet, Ian Kubo-Hawthorn… This is either going to be the miracle you hoped for or it’s going to be a absolute fucking disaster.”

Mika Moon is one of twenty-odd known witches in the UK, twenty-odd orphaned women who live solitary lives in accordance with the Rules - afterall, dangerous things happen when witches gather. But when Mika receives a message online requesting her help tutoring three young witches, Mika steps into a house unlike any other, and finds herself a home.

What I Liked

“…when someone leaves, all you can do is leave a window open for them so that one day, if they choose, they can come back.”

I loved all of the characters in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. From the three witch girls - Rosetta, Teracotta, and Altamira - to every odd member of the Nowhere House family; Ken, Ian, Lucie, Jamie, and especially Circe. Afterall, people really didn’t deserve dogs.

The plot was light enough to allow us to focus on the characters and their development, but not so light that you forgot it was there. It allowed for the progression of the story to feel natural, with the exception of the ending that felt a little rushed.

I adored the slowbuild between Jamie and Mika. Grumpy x Sunshine seems to be swiftly becoming one of my favourite romance tropes, and Mandanna executed it perfectly in this book! With Jamie very slowly losing all the reasons he told himself he couldn’t like Mika, and Mika slowly finding herself able to open up to this prickly yet kind man, their relationship felt as natural as magic.

What I Didn’t Like

“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong… sometimes we need to make that place.”

The ending felt a little rushed, but more in that a lot of events happened in the last few chapters, rather than it was poorly crammed in together.

I also found myself disliking Primrose, though we learn throughout the book exactly why she is the way that she is. I also found myself comparing her to Dumbldore in her need to do things for the “Greater Good” and I disliked that. However, she was a necessary character for the plot and I enjoyed her role overall.

Other Impressions

“Alone is how-” “-is how we survive, yes… I can’t say whether that’s true or not, but one thing I do know, Primrose, is that alone is not how we live.”

This story was very whimsical, yet down to earth and exactly what I would imagine a modern day witch to be like if magic was real. The magic in the world felt natural, and having a main character that lived and breathed magic really helped bring that to life. Overall I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good slowbuild romance, found family, and the magic of life.

My first book by this author and it was very, very good!

Mika Moon is a witch who has been raised to follow the regular witchy practice of hiding her magic and keeping away from other witches. For her it is a lonely way of life so when the opportunity arises to break the rules and maybe find a better way she grabs it with both hands. Of course not everything goes well.

I really enjoyed all the characters - the three young witches, Ian and his husband, and all the others but especially Jamie. The romance between him and Mika was sweet and was a major part of the story. The magic system was fun and I loved the idea of seeing magic as gold dust.

This is a happy, feel good story, written beautifully and with plenty of original ideas. I loved it and will look out for more by this author.

This book is special its loving and cozy and full of understanding and talking. Its full of hwaling generational trauma, loving people despite themselves. Making new traditions to override the old. 🌻

✨In a world where a broomstick can be a hatchback and a cup of tea more lucky than you think. Where witches live among people. Where people live among witches.

Mika Moon is unmoored. Her life as a witch. Enjoying magic by herself. Growing up by herself. She knows how to be by herself. The rent on her flat is nearly up, and she is not going back to her childhood home and the ghosts that haunt it. 🪐

The thing is witches are lonely. They are cursed to be orphans and safer away from other witches. Mika loves magic, she is magic, but she has to keep it secret. She has to keep herself secret. She shares bits here and there. A witchcraft instagram page, with recommendations for incense. Teas shared with her neighbour that do more than warm you up. She shares herself in a thousand little Mika is thrust into a world of love and chaos and rule breaking.

This book is just so adorable - like an absolutely perfect low stakes low urban fantasy with a sprinkling of romance. The lit reference, the Austen references. The ardent love. It’s all too perfect. Right down to the cozy bookshop and attic bedroom. With the windows open even in winter🐌

This was a very sweet feel good story which was entirely magical. It reminded me very much of the House in the Cerelean Sea. The cast of characters were a delight too. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

SUCH a cosy read! Just what I needed while on sick leave from work. It’s like a warm hug in a book! I was ambivalent towards this just from reading the blurb, but the characters and story soon had me converted! Give this book a chance - you won’t regret it!